Eric Staley, Makayla Belton Obituary, Death – Delaware State Police have identified the two individuals killed in a tragic head-on collision early Sunday morning near Seaford. The victims were 22-year-old Eric Staley from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and 18-year-old Makayla Belton from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Both were passengers in a 2016 Nissan Rogue that was involved in the crash.
The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Sussex Highway (Route 13), near Cannon Road. According to police reports, the Nissan Rogue was traveling south in the left southbound lane when it collided head-on with a 2005 Honda Pilot. The Honda Pilot, driven by a 24-year-old man from Georgetown, was traveling north in the southbound lane, causing the deadly collision.
Eric Staley was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Nissan Rogue, while Makayla Belton was seated in the rear. Both were pronounced dead at the scene due to the severe impact of the crash. The driver of the Nissan, a 22-year-old man from Washington D.C., and another 18-year-old female passenger from Bethesda, Maryland, were critically injured and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The driver of the Honda Pilot and his 40-year-old passenger, both from Georgetown, were also injured in the crash. The driver sustained serious injuries, while the passenger was reported to be in critical condition. Both were transported to a local hospital for medical care.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the accident, but no further details have been released regarding the cause or circumstances that led to the Honda Pilot driving the wrong way on Sussex Highway. Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward with information. Witnesses can contact investigators by calling (302) 703-3264, sending a private message to the Delaware State Police via Facebook, or reaching out to Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities hope to determine what caused the Honda Pilot to drive into oncoming traffic, leading to the fatal collision that claimed the lives of two young passengers and critically injured others.